bicycle.net -- cycling news, product reviews, original essays, podcasts & video :: Tour of California 2009

by Kim M. White

POV Cyclist
Legally we can be on the road and are supposed to be 1/3rd of the way
into the lane. Many of us are commuting either to work or to do errands due to the
increasing cost of gas. Since we ride a bike, we save money on gas,
increase our health and don=92t put gasoline emissions in the air.
We stay as far to the right as possible. This is for our own safety,
but there is glass, debris and gravel on the side of the road that
forces us to move to the left. The glass and debris can cause tire
punctures that could give us a flat or a blow out. We don’t want to
fall into the lane where cars could run us over.

If we are going downhill at the speed limit or higher, please back off
one car length or more behind us in case we fall. If we are on a curvy
road, please wait for the straight-away to pass us. If you pass us
closely, we think you are trying to run us off of the road.
If there is a bike lane, please don’t veer into it after passing us. That also
seems like you are trying to kill us.
If you are on the other side of the road, please don’t intentionally
come across the road to scare us, we consider this attempted murder.
If we need to turn left, we are legally supposed to pull into the left
turn lane. Many of us stay as far to the right as possible.
We usually go slowly uphill due to gravity. We will try to stay to the
right as far as possible. If there is no bike lane or if there is
debris in the road, we will have to move into the car lane.
Please be patient with us. We are also slower when starting off from a stop sign or light.
If there are runners in the marked bicycle lane, we will move into the
car lane to avoid them. If you are a runner, please stay to the right of the bike lane so that
we can pass you in the bike lane and stay out of the car lane.
If you are in a group, please run single file, especially if you are
going in the same direction of vehicle & bicycle flow. (This is
illegal for runners, but common.)

POV Car
If you ride your bike slower than the speed limit, stay to the right
of the road. If you are slower than the flow of traffic, go single file so that we
can pass you without coming too close to you.
Don’t run stop signs blatently. At least attempt to stop, especially
if there is cross traffic. Let the cars take their turn. If you run a
stop sign or light and it is clearly illegal, I may be inclined to
take it out on the next rider that comes along.
Wear bright colored clothing. If you blend in with the road, trees or
if it is foggy, how can you expect me to see you?
Wear a helmet; if you don’t stop at the aforementioned stop signs or
lights and we accidentally hit you, you have a better chance of
surviving. If it is dark outside (or foggy), wear reflective clothing (or at
least white clothes), use a light (it is the law), so that we can see
and avoid you. This is helpful if you are going to cross lanes to turn
left.

If you are running on the road, stay close to the side of the road and
out of traffic. It is hard enough watching for cyclists.

POV Runner
If you are a cyclist, say hi or nod if I acknowledge you. It is
friendly and some of us know CPR in case you get hit by a car or fall.
We run on the road (blacktop) because it is a softer surface than
cement. That is easier on our knees. If we are there, please don’t aim
for us, we consider this attempted murder by cars and bicycles.
There are not many sidewalks or trails in some neighborhoods, so we
have to run on the street. We try to run facing traffic which is in accordance with the law, but
if there is not a lot of room on that side of the street, we may have
to go with the flow of traffic.

Can’t we all just get along.